Mohamed Ali Zoma made his senior Italy debut during this international break, and he is not trying to narrow the conversation around what comes next. The Mohamed Ali striker says he was born in Italy and feels 100% Italian, while also keeping Serie A and the Premier League open.

Italy debut and identity

Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb, Zoma said: "Very strong emotion. I was born in Italy, I feel 100% Italian and since I was little I watched that shirt on TV". That is the personal layer here. He has now worn the shirt he grew up watching, and the moment clearly meant something to him.

His comments to football-italia.net point in the same direction. "I’m not closing the door to anyone. I’m ready and focused, let’s see what the future has in store for me," he said. That leaves the usual transfer noise exactly where it is, with no rush to commit to one league or one path.

Klose's role in the Nürnberg move

The other strand is Miroslav Klose and Nürnberg. Zoma said Klose was key to his move, explaining that he had spoken to him before arriving and that it influenced the choice. He added that Klose, who speaks Italian, helped him both on and off the pitch.

Zoma also said, "And I improved thanks to him." That sits alongside the move itself, which came after he joined Nürnberg from Serie C side AlbinoLeffe in the summer of 2025. The connection is not hard to miss, but it is better treated as influence rather than a simple shortcut to the top.

The club form has backed up the rise. Zoma has scored six goals in seven league games this season, a return that has put him on the radar well beyond Germany. West Ham reportedly had a bid of around €20m rejected at the end of the summer window, while Kicker has suggested a fee above €30m in January is not out of the question.

The two reports do not say the same thing, and that is where the speculation starts to split. What does not change is Zoma’s stance, which is that he is not closing any doors and is leaving the next move to take shape on its own.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →